The OKC Thunder’s Big Three era might be one of the biggest What if stories in NBA history. Of course, we are referring to the brief partnership of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. The future MVPs took the league by storm when they led OKC to the NBA Finals thirteen years ago. However, the trio broke up after losing to a LeBron James-led Miami Heat in that series. But what was it like being in that star-studded locker room? Well, for legend Derek Fisher, it was a shocking experience!

Yes, after winning five championships with the Lakers, Fisher decided to join the young Thunder squad as their veteran leader. Playing with Kobe Bryant for most of his career, he was used to a certain locker room atmosphere, which initially made him doubt Kevin Durant and Co.’s potential, “Once I actually got there, I wasn’t sure cause I had been in LA most of my career. Veteran teams. Championship teams. Very serious, locker room quiet before the game like dudes locked in.”

Unlike the experienced Lakers squad, the atmosphere in OKC was completely different, “I got to OKC man, that music was playing so loud and they just in there reciting lyrics and I’m like – ‘Y’all know we got a game in 15 minutes right?’” Sure enough, the team’s nonchalant attitude behind the scenes led Fisher to believe that they might not have the necessary focus to win big.

But he was pleasantly surprised once the ball went in the air, as he revealed on Podcast P with Paul George, “Bro the game would start and how fast these dudes was running, and how synced in they were, it was like I had never seen anything like it. It just wasn’t what I had experienced in the league prior to that.” Yes, the Thunder had three young studs who would go on to be some of the most dominant players in history.

And Fisher eventually began believing in their method as they continued to win games, “They might be more ready than I think. The looseness of the locker room isn’t distracting them from being successful. That was a generational gap, like dudes in their early 20s compared to guys in their early 30s and mid 30s, which is where I pretty much come from.” Unfortunately, the group could never reach the mountaintop.

James Harden’s departure was the first step to OKC Thunder’s fallout

Despite having massive potential, Thunder never made it to the NBA Finals again. Obviously, a major reason was that they lost James Harden in a trade to the Rockets after failing to reach an agreement in contract negotiations. At the time, they had already offered massive extensions to KD, Russ, and Serge Ibaka, and were not willing to offer Harden his desired salary. Well, that proved to be a big mistake as Harden took a massive leap in Houston and became arguably the greatest scorer of the modern era.

Four years later, KD also left OKC in a move that he is criticized for even today. Yes, joining the Golden State Warriors during their prime, forming arguably the best team ever. And Westbrook was the only one left of the initial Big Three. Although Russ turned into a triple-double machine, it was not enough to get OKC back to title contention. He was also out of the team in 2019. Thus ended the Thunder’s Golden era which never reached its true potential. What is your favorite memory from that run?